Ashford in the Water - River Wye - Great Shacklow Wood - Deep Dale - Sheldon - Magpie Mine - Sheldon - Little Shacklow Wood - Ashford in the Water

A nice day for walking although a little on the cool side. After a brief time in the village of Ashford in the Water I walked across the Sheepwash Bridge and up the A6 for a short distance before heading off towards Great Shacklow Wood. Once again lighting conditions were not brilliant as I walked by past the River Wye and through the woods. As I approached Deep Dale there was much more snow on the ground which made the walk very pleasant. Deep Dale is a nature reserve of scientific interest. Once I had reached the top of Deep Dale I turned up out of the dale towards Sheldon. The scenery around this point was lovely and the views across to Flagg and Magpie Mine were tremendous. My walk then sent me across a couple of fields before reaching the village of Sheldon. Then it was a short distance to Magpie Mine. The views of the mine were fantastic with the sun and snow. Magpie Mine was a lead mine and was worked off and on from 1682 for 300 years. It has over 20 shafts in addition to the impressive remaining buildings. The main building is the Cornish Engine House of c1869 with its distinctive round Cornish chimney. The main shaft is 600ft deep. Nearby are many other features including a steel winding drum and other winches. Three miners were suffocated by sulphurous fires deliberately set underground by opposing miners in 1833. After visiting the mine I retraced my steps back to Sheldon and then walked by Little Shacklow Wood back to Ashford in the Water. It was a very interesting day.